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Difficulty: MediumPronoun Clarity and Reference

During the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, chief engineer Washington Roebling fell severely ill and was confined to his home. His wife, Emily Warren Roebling, stepped in to manage the daily operations, teaching herself civil engineering and materials science. She acted as a liaison, conveying detailed technical instructions between Washington and the assistant builders, which enabled [them] to complete the massive suspension bridge.

Which choice is the most effective replacement for the underlined portion to ensure pronoun clarity and precise reference?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. the buildersAnswer
  3. C
    it
  4. D
    this

Answer

the builders
The correct option replaces the ambiguous pronoun with the specific noun phrase 'the builders.' This change clearly identifies who completed the suspension bridge, resolving the ambiguity of the original pronoun.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined pronoun and its potential antecedents in the sentence.
The underlined pronoun is 'them', and potential antecedents include 'instructions', 'Washington', and 'the assistant builders'.
Determining if a pronoun has multiple potential antecedents helps identify if it is ambiguous.
2
Evaluate the choices to find the one that removes ambiguity and provides a clear, grammatically correct reference.
Replacing 'them' with the specific noun 'the builders' clearly identifies who completed the bridge, while other options either retain ambiguity or introduce vague references.
Using a specific noun is the standard way to resolve ambiguous pronoun references.

Key Concept

Pronoun Clarity and Reference
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Topics

Pronoun Clarity and Reference

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